Fans rule! We have a team on the ground of the ultimate fan convention: Comic-Con. Come back all weekend for the latest photos, video and swag from the convention. You won’t want to miss it!

Comic-Con kicks off in San Diego today, and as is the case each year there will be thousands of fans on site, along with hundreds of celebrities from all corners of the geek universe, sneak peeks of the latest movies and TV shows, parties taking over the all of downtown… and then of course, there’s TONS of stuff to buy!

Over the years I’ve become something of a connoisseur of collectibles, toys and various knick-knacks that clutter up– er, “decorate”– my desk and office. Comic-Con is perpetually the place to find the coolest, weirdest and nerdiest stuff around, so if you’re planning to check out the show this year, keep this list in mind, featuring the perfect gifts for the geek in your life.

10. Gizmo Hits Comic Con! (NECA, $20.00)

Gremlins is one of those true movie gems from the 80’s, and Gizmo, our little Mogwai hero, has a permanent home in the hearts of many children of the 80’s like myself. Pop culture memorbilia and collectibles company NECA is getting their Gizmo on with a Convention-only toy of Gizmo, complete with his mini Comic Con entry badge, giant shopping bag, and sunglasses (it’s sunny in San Diego, after all!).
This cute critter would look great sitting on the corner of your cubicle, or on top of a computer monitor, and everyone who sees him is sure to let out a big, uncontrollable “Awwww, too cute!!!”

9. Dexter Action Figure (Bif Bang Pow!, $15.00)

We really heart Michael C. Hall, and everybody (should) heart Dexter, Showtime’s fantastic genre-bending show starring a CSI analyst, who also happens to be a secret serial killer! There’s been tons of Dexter merch for fans of “America’s Favorite Serial Killer,” but toymakers Bif Bang Pow! are releasing the first small scale, fully articulated toy of Dexter at this year’s Comic Con! I know I can barely hold back the excitement that soon Dexter can stalk the likes of Darth Vader and Cobra Commander on my shelf!

8. South Park Mysterion (Kidrobot, $10.95)

Designer toy company Kidrobot have worked with some awesome properties in the past, including [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]The Gorillaz[/lastfm] and rapper [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]MF Doom[/lastfm], but their most exciting announcement this year is a new line of South Park mini figurines! And rather than start off with Stan, Kyle or Cartman like you may expect, they’re kicking things off with the oft-dead Kenny’s super hero alter ego, Mysterion! It’s an awesomely obscure choice for your first character, but he looks awesome, and the super hero theme fits in perfectly at Comic Con.

7. The Avengers Mini-Muggs Box Set (Hasbro, $34.99)

In keeping with the art toy theme, toy company Hasbro is helping hype The Avengers (probably the biggest movie of next Summer!) with a box set of The Avengers team in “Mighty Mugg” form! FYI, “Mighty Muggs” are the super-cute guys displayed above, and are made of “100% recycled awesome!” This box set gets you adorable mini-renditions of Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk, Thor and the extra big Giant Man, who’s literally busting out of his packaging!

6. Back To The Future Hot Wheels Car (Mattel, $35.00)

Don’t have room for a box full of super heroes? Toy company Mattel (y’know, the Barbie people) are unveiling a Hot Wheels car version of the time travelling DeLorean from the classic Back to the Future series! The 1.21 jiggawatt roadster will be sold in the cool display case seen above, as it speeds down main street leaving a trail of flames in its wake.

5. DC Universe Swamp Thing (Mattel, $30.00)

Never heard of Swamp Thing? He’s one of the funkier super heroes out there, a scientist who was transformed into a plant based creature in a science experiment gone wrong (of course). He’s starred in a pretty great made-for-TV movie and even had his own cartoon show back in the early 90’s. Mattel, who makes tons of great toys featuring all the DC Comics heroes and villains, is putting Swampy here front and center, available only at Comic Con! The massive green hero sports his own display stand, and a cool bio-degradable display box which includes a mask version of his face… so, if you see a bunch of people walking around the Con floor looking like this guy, now you’ll know why!

4. The Walking Dead # 87 TV Photo Variant (Diamond Comics, $2.99)

Since it’s Comic Con, you have to pick up at least one comic at the show! My suggestion would be the show-exclusive The Walking Dead #87, it’s a brand new issue of the zombie comic book- turned AMC drama… and it features a totally gross zombie photo from the TV show on the cover! The Walking Dead is a great comic book, and the TV show is coming back in the Fall (having just earned a bunch of Emmy nominations)… here’s your chance to get a sneak peek on what’s going to happen next in this zombie tale!

3. Dr. Who Tardis Bobblehead (Bif Bang Pow!, $20.00)

This show is called Comic Con International for a reason, celebrating great sci fi from all over the world. In the UK sci fi is basically synonymous with Dr. Who. The long-running series has generations of die-hard fans, and now they can all celebrate the classic TV series with a bobblehead in the shape of The Tadis, the good Doctor’s space and time travelling phone booth! This piece is destined for a top spot on any geek’s shelf, guaranteed!

2. Transformers/ G.I. Joe Starscream Sky Striker (Hasbro, $49.99)

I grew up on lots of great cartoons (child of the 80’s, remember?) But none were cooler than Transformers and G.I. Joe! Hasbro is finally uniting the worlds of their famous shape-shifting robots and super-soldiers with the Starscream Skystriker playset! This massive F-16 jet is decorated to look like the Transformers’ villain, and to top it off the set includes G.I. Joe villain Cobra Commander decked out in pilot’s gear to sit in the cockpit! The display box for this set features a comic book-style cover art, making sure fans old and young alike are prepared for whatever fantastic adventure is contained within.

1. Ghostbusters Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (Mattel, $70.00)

The “king” of this year’s Con is definitely the absolutely ginormous Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, from Mattel’s Ghostbusters. The mammoth villain who almost laid waste to all of New York City in the first movie, is immortalized in lots of plastic– standing over 20″ tall this guy is capital-“H”- HUGE! The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man features a backdrop with the New York skyline, which is perfect to capture him stomping his way down Broadway. OK, this guy might be a little too enormous for that shelf in the office, but he’s so cool, you should probably just buy a new shelf entirely!

That’s our recap of the coolest stuff you can buy only at Comic Con this week… there’s some great treasures here for the nerd in your life… but trust us– we won’t say anything if you pick up something for yourself, too!